Milk Thistle

Medical herbalist Luzia Barclay tells us why she loves milk thistle.

Milk thistle is the prickliest thistle I have ever picked. Its thorns or needles remind me of sewing needles but are even thinner and sharper. You need to wear extra thick leather gloves when handling this plant. But despite it sharpness, it is a beautiful thistle.

It has dark green leaves with white markings, which look as though milk has been poured over them. Milk thistle grows in the Mediterranean regions of Europe, in North Africa and in the Middle East. It can also be grown in Britain where it prefers a sunny, sheltered spot.

Looking back

There are hardly any herbalists in history who have not mentioned milk thistle -it has a long tradition and solid reputation for helping liver problems, which is confirmed in practically all scientific papers published on the plant. The Greek physician Dioscorides (40-90 AD) mentions milk thistle’s healing properties. Hildegard von Bingen, the first woman to write a herbal in 1152 includes milk thistle and describes its uses, while the great 18th-century herbalist Culpepper noted that it can be used ‘to open the obstructions of the liver and spleen, and thereby is good against the jaundice.’ Meanwhile in his 1597 Anatomie of Plants John Gerard says milk thistle is ' the best remedy against melancholy diseases'. And how true this is - if your liver works well, your general health will be good and in turn many mental or emotional upsets will improve.

How does it work?

Most of the goodness of milk thistle can be traced back to three liver-protecting compounds known collectively as silymarin. It is thought these help to protect liver cells by altering the outer cell membrane thereby blocking the entry of toxins. It can therefore help the liver regenerate itself in people who have hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Milk thistle also helps to strengthen the liver by preventing the depletion of glutathione, an amino acid like compound, which is essential to the detox process. As excessive alcohol depletes glutathione, milk thistle is also often given to help protect the livers of alcoholics or those recovering from alcohol abuse.

I usually use milk thistle for treating patients with chronic inflammatory liver disorders, cirrhosis and fatty liver due to alcohol and dietary excesses. Needless to say as well as taking milk thistle, patients have to make changes to their lifestyle, which probably led to their liver problems in the first place.

Alongside these changes, milk thistle can help to repair any damage to the liver with visible results. The skin will loose its yellow ‘liverish’ or jaundice colour. The bilirubin values and other important figures stated in liver function tests will change for the better showing improvement of liver functioning. Gastro-intestinal symptoms such as wind, bloating and cramping pains will improve as will appetite. Other positive side effects of milk thistle include increased feelings of well being and better physical performance.

Milk thistle can also be taken from time to time to help protect the liver against possible damage caused by chemical toxins to which we are all becoming more and more exposed to in 21st century life. And if you intend to party hard this Christmas and New Year milk thistle can be taken as a protective measure to protect the liver from the excesses of alcohol.

How to take it

Milk thistle can be taken as a tincture, 20 drops three times daily with a little water. Look out also for good quality milk thistle preparations, which often come combined with other ‘liver herbs’ like artichoke or barberry.

Luzia Barclay DBTh MIRCH, Registered Medical Herbalist, Tel 01258 456223 www.herbsforhealing.org.uk